Customer Reviews

Metaphysics (4th Edition)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For my money, Richard Taylor's "Metaphysics" is still the best short introduction to metaphysics for undergraduates or general readers. Taylor had a unique gift for explaining "heavy" philosophical topics -- God, fatalism, mind, time, causality -- in readable prose that met analytical standards but never mired the reader in a bog of technicalities and linguistic distinctions. The chapters on God and fatalism, in particular, are near-classic essays that have been widely discussed in the secondary literature and reprinted in anthologies.

Taylor conveyed a sense of excitement about philosophy and taught readers that metaphysics is central to any thoughtful life. Maybe he got a bit carried away on this score -- to judge by a few statements in "Metaphysics," he took himself very seriously and believed that only philosophers can have meaningful lives. But these are minor annoyances and conceits in an otherwise outstanding book. There's a reason why it's gone through four editions and is still in print after more than 40 years! I've read the book three times and still find riches in it.

This is the text book for many college philosophy-knowledge and reality courses. A small book that one can read over a few times and think about the tough questions of epistemology and metaphysics. The mind-body relation(or lack thereof), freedom and determinism, fate, space and time,temporal passage,causation,God,and polarity, are among the topics touched upon. This is a book in which you must think as you read,and watch out for assumptions the author makes at points. Go for it.

"Metaphysics" has been used in classrooms since the 1960s, and for good reason -- it is a clearly-written introduction to central metaphysical issues such as the mind/body problem, determinism and free will, and the existence of God (the chapter on God has been reprinted in numerous anthologies). Here and there, author Taylor gets carried away with the "heaviness" of his subject, as when he writes like Ecclesiastes, or succumbs to faux-Spinoza-isms about how "untutored and vulgar" people lead impoversished lives because they can't understand metaphysics. But otherwise the book is excellent. If you wanted to introduce a smart teenager or college freshman to philosophy, you couldn't do better than "Metaphysics."

This book is excellent for getting a good grasp on some of the contemporary problems involved in metaphysics. He seems to take sides in the determinism section, but maintains the other side to a degree that keeps the problem (barely) alive. The text is straightforward and very readable.

This is a great introduction to problems of metaphysics and to philosophical thinking in general. I highly recommend it if you're new to philosophy or if you just want a refresher on some of the fundamentals. Richard Taylor is both clear and profound. He is one of the few contemporary philosophers who appreciates the value of living an examined life.
I also recommend his book Good and Evil. Frankena's book Ethics is also a great short introduction.

"Metaphysics" has been in print and used in classrooms since the 1960s, and for good reason -- it is a clearly-written introduction to central metaphysical issues such as the mind/body problem, determinism and free will, and the existence of God. Here and there, author Taylor seems to get carried away with the "heaviness" of his subject, which leads him to immitate the tone of Ecclesiastes, or to succumb to faux-Spinoza-isms about how "untutored and vulgar" people lead impoversished lives as a consequence of their inability to understand metaphysics. But otherwise the book is excellent. If you wanted to introduce a smart teenager or college freshman to the subject of philosophy, you couldn't do better than "Metaphysics."

This book is usually promoted as a basic intro to metaphysics, and it does this well, except for the fact that the author does not present the material in a disinterested fashion. I think it is fine for philosophers to have their own professional opinions, but not in and introductory book. If it were suggested that this book serve as a serious foray into metaphysics, then I would have given it 2 stars. Therefore, I write this review from the standpoint that this book is intended to be an introduction, and well biased.

Particularly deficient are the topics of space, time, and causality. He gives a bit of attention to time from McTaggart's point of view, but that is all. I don't think Taylor said anything particularly thought provoking in regard to space. His commentary on causality is pitiful, in my opinion. The other sections in this book are done fairly well, which is possibly the result of his own preference of some topics over others.

I haven't confirmed my suspicions, but, from this book, I imagine that Richard Taylor is a determinist, physicalist (the reason for scant treatment of physical concepts), is vehemently anti-solipsism, etc. I don't have a problem with these position; I even maintain some such positions. However, an introduction is no place for a one-sided presentation. If this isn't an introduction, then it is just a poor book.

I have only reached the second chapter and am really enjouing the lucid , guy next door simplicity of the read. I am a huge fan of Aquinas , final causes etc, and can't commment at this point much beyond his marvelous concision in treating the mind / body issues. I much agree with the previoius reviewers and their enthusiasm. Whether I will run into implicit positions with which I find problems is yet to be determined (forgive the pun), but I freely will to continue.

I won't buy another book online. This book has orange magic marker all through it. This is not what I paid for and I want a lean replacement or a refund.
jm

Received book as promised. Book was listed as "used, but in new condition" and this was exactly correct. The book has no highlighting. Received book within one week.